Travel bloggers’ favourite places to visit in the UK

I think we’re quite lucky in Britain that there are so many amazing places to visit on such a small island. And they’re all so different – from the hills and heather of the Highlands to the bustle of London, Bristol or Newcastle. I actually find it impossible to pick where I like best. But luckily for me, some lovely fellow bloggers have got in touch with their favourite places to visit in the UK. And don’t they all look beautiful? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to go and update my ‘to visit’ list…

Spreading some hundred miles or so through Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds are renowned for their beauty and the soft-hued, honey-coloured stonework which is synonymous with the region. The widespread use of this building material is key to why people flock to the area, the homogeneity of appearance of the towns, villages, churches and manor houses adds to the charm. Often tucked away in gentle valleys, gurgling streams and meandering rivers these little gems satisfy some inner desire to recapture a lost way of life, to develop an inner calm and to step away from the hustle and bustle of 21st century life.

There are few large towns in the Cotswolds. Cirencester claims the title of the region’s capital (not surprising when in the Roman times it was second only to London) but you also have Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh and Burford whose picture-book High Street slopes down through the town to the banks of the River Windrush below. However, it is often the villages who manage to upstage their bigger, better-known neighbours. Settlements such as Bibury, the Slaughters, the Rissingtons and Lechlade, which nestle on the banks of the infant Thames, take the breath away and provide a real sense of oases of tranquillity, untouched by modern development and free from the hectic urban life of today.

Dotted in amongst the ‘Wolds’ are great manor houses such as Chastleton House, Sudeley Castle, Snowshill Manor and the unique Sezincote with its ‘Indian-style’ architecture. Little wonder that the area has attracted the rich and powerful throughout the ages, as the various wonders offered by this beautiful area of England are too numerous to mention. If you want to escape the rat-race (if only for an hour or two) head to the Cotswolds, find yourself a nice village pub in one of these gloriously appointed villages, order a glass (or two) of the local brew and allow your mind to drift, reconnecting with the natural world and your inner-self. Lose yourself for a few minutes; what could be better!!

Follow the A30 or take the stunning coastal train down to the tip of England and there you will find the un-spoilt stunning coastal village of Sennen Cove. From there take the three mile coastal walk to Lands’ End where you can’t help but stand at the top of 200ft high granite rocks and stare out to sea in awe across the Atlantic ocean.

Sennen is a surfers haven with one of the most stunning beaches in England, making it the perfect weekend beach break. Accommodation is varied from camping to holiday home rental. And if you have time, be sure to visit the Minack Theatre and Porthcurno Cove.

The beautiful River Cam flows through Cambridge city centre and goes right through the university. Punting, Cambridge’s version of a gondola trip, is a wonderful, chilled way to see the city – especially the university grounds and the Bridge of Sighs. You have the option of getting a punting tour with a guide and punter or renting a self-punt. I’d definitely recommend getting a group of friends and bottle of Prosecco and punting yourselves. It’s so fun and you’re free to choose where you go and what you do.

There’s something quintessentially English about Cambridge and I think it’s a wonderful way to get a taste of English life, without the hustle and bustle of London. I recommend exploring Cambridge city on foot, wandering around and taking in all of the pretty sites without rhyme or reason.

You’ll stumble upon some fabulous spots such as King’s College Chapel and the Corpus Clock just by walking aimlessly. The paved streets of Cambridge give it a very small town feel (even though it’s home to about 150,000 people) which makes the centre quite walkable. I’d also recommend getting out of the city to see the rural parts of Cambridgeshire. The countryside is truly beautiful and there are some stunning scenes you can set your eyes on. All in all, it’s a beautiful city that allows a travelling tourist really soak up English culture.

Bakewell – Erin Reki

Bakewell in my opinion is a cute, quaint, charming little village with some distinctive shops and tasty treats. It holds precious memories from days out with dad to dates with the boyfriend. I hope you make time for this little village and find it just as enchanting as I do, even after 20 years!

Let’s start with the most important thing – the food. Bakewell tarts. These sweet little things can be found in many of the patisseries and it’s what Bakewell is famous for. Next is the homity pie, made of potato and herbs topped with cheese in pastry, served warm. Simple, but insanely delicious.

The chocolate soup from Naughty and Nice should also be mentioned – it’s divine. You’ll need a good walk to burn off the calories but you’ll feel like royalty whilst sipping what is essentially a big cup of melted chocolate. Get the chilli-flavoured one for extra kick!

There’s also lots of lovely gift shops selling bespoke jewellery and unique vintage-inspired trinkets. And you love the great outdoors, Bakewell has an abundance of camping and hiking shops with many nearby trails to explore.

You can see most of the village in 30 minutes depending on how slow you walk, how many shops you browse and how many coffees/teas you drink. If you’re thirsty for more, Chatsworth House is a short bus ride away. There is an entrance fee but I find it just as nice to walk around the grounds, go deer spotting and walk off all those extra calories from that amazing food.

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Emma

Co-editor Emma is LWT’s resident history lover and fact nerd. She loves travelling overland – especially by train. Her trips tend to be planned around good food and a little bit of adventure.

Hi Lorna, I hadn’t actually spotted that the focus was on the south of the UK – we do have Bakewell in our list but oddly nothing further north – I think it’s a good excuse for a post on the beauty of the UK’s north in the future!

I agree there are also many places up north that are worthy of being added, I adore Yorkshire and Northumberland (family roots there) and Emma always loves going back up to Durham and Scotland to visit her friends and family. These are just a few examples of bloggers favourite places in the UK, it’s not a complete list! 😉

The reason why ‘The North’ rarely gets the recognition that it deserves is simply one of practicality -> most visitors to the UK will arrive in London, and since London itself is (quite understandably) a big draw, and with UK travel being as expensive as it is, it makes more sense for visitors and travellers to stay close. (though as anyone who’s ever been to Cornwall will attest, ‘The South’ is itself a pretty big place!

It is a shame, as there’s some lovely stopovers North of Oxford -> Bakewell itself for instance lies within the marvellous and beautiful Peak District; of course there are the small towns of the North York Moors and the Lake District; there’s places like Whitby & Saltburn by the Sea that are distinctive; Durham’s very much like Oxford & Cambridge and worth going to to compare; and of course we also boast Bronte Country (Haworth) and Sherwood Forest.

But then we can’t go everywhere (I’ve been working on that for 40 years and I’ve still not been to Brighton)! :p Maybe we need more Northern Bloggers to balance things out? 😀

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